Solid state director for beams

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for electro-optically controlling the path of a laser beam or other electromagnetic beam in a suitable spectrum (e.g. visible, infrared, etc.) operates entirely in a solid state. Crystalline carbon-60 is manufactured in a gaseous environment to produce carbon-60 balls, each capturing a polarized molecule or ion susceptible to application of an electric field. Carbon-60 balls are suspended in a matrix of transparent gel, cured polymer, or held by their own solid, crystalline structure. Electrodes for controlling electric fields imposed upon the head, preferably shaped as a semi-spherical object, may be energized by alternating voltage to provide an alternating field. The ions or polarized molecules may oscillate within the carbon-60 &#34;cages&#34; in any direction as dictated by multiple, phased, field electrodes. A virtual plane of ions creates a refractive environment that can selectively aim an incoming beam in accordance with oscillating patterns of ions under the influence of the electrical fields. Orthogonal fields may provide precise refraction and aiming of an electromagnetic (e.g. light) beam in two dimensions. A target material may be any electro-optical surface, or a work piece. As a memory device, the light source, directing head, and memory medium are all solid state devices requiring no mechanically accelerated parts. Storage density may be redily increased by one to three orders of magnitude. Speed increases may range from three to six orders of magnitude improvement over conventional, prior art devices.

This application is a divisional of and claims the benefit of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/015,536, filed Jan. 29, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.6,034,883, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates to memory devices and, more particularly, tonovel systems and methods for directing a light beam to read and writefrom a medium for storing information.

2. The Background Art

Memory devices have existed to support computers since computation wasinvented. Memory devices for modern computer systems meet physicallimitations controlling the ability to write data, read data, and toreliably store data. In more recent years, electromagnetic media havebeen augmented, sometimes replaced, by optical media. For examplecompact disk read only memory (CD ROM) has become a major distributionmedium for software, data, reference materials, images, art works,music, and the like. As a practical manner, the total available numberof bits that may be stored in a CD ROM or any optical or electromagneticmemory device is limited by its "resolution." Various physical andelectrical factors contribute to limitations on resolution.

An ability to direct a writing device, direct a reading device, preventinteraction between bits, and the like have limited density of mediarecording data. Moreover, fundamental mechanical limitations exist forreading heads and writing heads in memory devices. The quality of signalprocessing and available limitations on speed have together combined toproduce the information storage technologies used in the prior art.

The density of data on an actual storage medium is important. Also, theoverall density of data for the entire storage medium and its supportinginfrastructure may be very significant. Memory density may be thought ofas the inverse of resolution. For example, the number of bits that maybe stored in any medium of a particular size, such as an area or avolume, may characterize a storage density as that number of bits perthat particular volume, area, or other resource measurement.

In modern memory systems, particularly non-volatile ones, such as harddrives, floppy diskettes, Bernoulli drives, electro-optical disks, CDROM's, and the like, have relied on certain moving mechanical parts.Typically, a storage medium is configured in a circular format to berotated. Meanwhile, a mechanical head may traverse radially over therotating medium. Thus, electronic control of starting and stopping ofreading may selectively read or write along an arcuate path over amedium. The rotating speed of a medium, coupled with the speed of theelectronic switching to begin or end reading or writing, and themechanical accelerations available for moving the head radially havetraditionally controlled the speed, resolution, and densities of memorydevices.

The memory devices available in the prior art are positioned in manylocations with respect to the actual processors using or creating datastored therein. For example, a computer may have a level I cache. Thelevel I cache is typically located immediately on the computer chip thatholds the processor itself. Other caches may be located more remotely.For example, other caches may be located across the computer bus on amotherboard or other highly integrated portion of a computer close tothe central processing unit (CPU).

Random access memory may be located even more remotely from the CPU thanis the cache. Random access memory may be located in a chip on themother board of a computer and connected by the main computer busthereon. Hard disks, floppy diskette, and the like, along with opticalCD ROM readers, and CD ROM writers, may be connected to a computer asperipheral devices.

Much of computer architecture is driven by the sizes of components.Moreover, the speed of access to memory devices is often critical. Thus,a CPU does not access the hard drive for data or other data structures(e.g. applications or other executables) if the required data structuresmay be stored to be accessible in the random access memory (RAM).Similarly, an executable line of code that may be stored in a cache willbe found there first, if available. Thus, a CPU seeks to find datastructures required for operation in the closest, fastest, availablelocation. Architectures of all operating systems are crafted to manageinformation in the caches, RAM, and storage (e.g. ROM, CD ROM, harddrive, floppy drive, etc.).

Thus, computer speed is limited by the proximity and availability ofdata or data structures, whether executables or simply operational data.Making more memory available in a smaller envelope (total size) permitsa memory device to be located closer to the CPU in terms of accessspeed. Minimizing mechanical parts speeds the accessability to data in amemory device.

Not only do moving mechanical parts take relatively large space withrespect to a CPU, but they generate heat and shock loads that may harmintegrated compounds. Also, mechanical devices use substantialelectrical energy. Large users of electrical energy may affect thevoltages, inductance and, generally, the conditioning of availablevoltages and currents used in electronic circuits. Thus, mechanicaldevices are typically located remotely from less robust, electroniccomponents operating at more stable voltages and lower currents.

Mechanical parts wear. Tolerances change. Time, temperature, wear, andabuse change their physical operation. Newton's second law of motionstill limits their theoretical, maximum, response speed.

Thus, what are needed are increased storage densities for memory, and areduction of mechanical parts. What is needed is increased memoryresolution and density at increased operational speed. Preferably,memory is needed that can be available in a solid state. Storage of datain an envelope of reduced size, at an access speed corresponding to thespeeds of electrons and light rather than mechanical responses, mayprovide improved memory support for increasingly large applications andother executables.

In addition, laser technology and other electromagnetic radiation beamtechnologies are being applied in varied ways. In general, directing abeam, such as a laser beam, more rapidly, with higher resolution, may beused in applications as diverse as surgery, holographic displays andreaders, oscilloscopes, switches, and logical devices. Thus, anyavailable use of lasers, electromagnetic radiation, light, and the likemay benefit from higher speed in direction, and increased resolutionthereof. High speed and precision pointing are required.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a solid-state director for electromagneticradiation, specifically light beams, such as lasers and the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide a head for directing abeam, using only solid state materials, and relying on no mechanicalmotion or acceleration.

It is another object of the invention to provide a high density memorydevice addressable in at least two dimensions by a beam ofelectromagnetic radiation in a spectrum associated with infrared,visible, or other light wavelength useful for transmitting information.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electric field as arapid control for direction of an electromagnetic beam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a low inductance formaximum speed, coupled with reduced mechanical inertia by removingmoving mechanical parts, above an atomic level of motion, for directinga beam, such as a beam of light.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism forcapturing ions or molecules responsive to an electric field in order tomanipulate an index of refraction of a material in a head directing abeam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a Fullerene molecule asa cage for an ion or polarized molecule responsive to an electric field,in order to change an index of refraction of a solid state head passinga beam therethrough toward a target, from a beam source.

It is another object of the invention to provide a light source directedin two dimensions through a solid state head to a 2-dimensional targetsurface, and a receiver for accepting back a reflection of the beamthrough the same head, in order to provide high resolution, high speed,and high density in a memory device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generalized beamcontroller for controlling light beams for electromagnetic frequenciesappropriate to being directed in one or more dimensions and specificallyin two dimensions.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with theinvention as embodied and broadly described herein, a beam director isdisclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a headcontaining polyhedral molecules of carbon, commonly known as BuckminsterFullerene, each molecule capturing therein an ion or polarized moleculeof a material selected to refract a beam.

The Fullerene may be imbedded in a gel, or a transparent polymer in adesired shape. In one embodiment, a hemisphere may be formed to have amatrix of optically transparent material, transparent in the wavelengthof the beam of interest. Polyhedral "balls" of Fullerene are packed intothe matrix, which matrix may be either a gel or a cured, solid polymer.

In one embodiment, the spherical (e.g hemisphere) head may be madeentirely of solid Fullerene. That is, carbon-60 may actually be formedas a solid crystal structure with no intervening or interstitial matrix.The Fullerene may be formulated in the presence of a gas, preferably ofsufficiently high density in the gas or vapor will assure that eachFullerene molecule holds an interstitial ion or molecule of a selectedgas with a crystalline carbon cage.

The head is subjected to one or more electric fields. An alternatingelectric field is preferable. Thus, the head is composed of a largenumber of Fullerene cages or balls, each containing a selectivelyvibrating ion or polarized molecule oscillating at field frequency ionor polarized molecule. An electric field may be applied in any directionacross the head. Multiple electric fields may be applied in multipleorthogonal directions.

Application of one or more electric fields may cause creation of avirtual plane of vibrating or oscillating gas particles (e.g. ions,molecules, etc.) along a field axis between the field electrodes. In oneembodiment, an alternating current electric field may be applied alongseveral orthogonal axes passing through the head, sufficient to defineany direction. Accordingly, upon activation of field electrodes, thecaptured ion (e.g. gas, polarized molecule, or the like) mayalternately, at the field of frequency, move toward and away from eachfield electrode in turn within a probabilistic plane of motion. Thespeed or frequency of the alternating field may be selected according tovarious designed criteria. The response of the ions will thus controland effect the response direction of the incident beam.

Thus, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may relyon creation of carbon-60 molecules, each comprised of 60 carbon atomsarranged in a spherical structure of hexagons and pentagons formed bybonded atoms. An ion or polarized molecule is captured within eachcarbon-60 molecule. An envelope, whether defining a solid structure, anoptically transparent shell encasing a gel matrix, or the like, isprovided. The envelope is filled with the carbon-60 molecules, which mayor may not be filled with a matrix of another material. A hemisphericalsurface provides the path for the transmission of light by equalizingthe path, regardless of direction for outgoing, refracted beams whilepresenting a surface normal to any returning beam, reflected from atarget.

The flat surface on a hemisphere may receive a beam from a beam source.The incoming beam will be refracted by a semi-spherical directing headto a target. The beam may be directed by submitting the ion or polarizedmolecules (captured in the carbon-60 molecules of the heads) by anelectric field. Multiple electric fields may provide virtual planes ofalternating ion motion, in accordance with alternating electric fieldbetween field electrodes. The oscillating or vibrating ions, oscillatingat the frequency of the voltage source activating the electrodes,improves the probability that an incoming light ray will encounter anion and be reflected or refracted at a proper, desired, designed, angle.The polarizing effect of the fields may provide a very high frequencyswitching ability for the direction of the virtual plane of theoscillating ions. Multiple heads can be used for logical switching assignals are relayed from one head to other heads for re-direction.

The incoming beam, from a suitable source, may be combined with a readerfor reading a reflected beam, may provide light (e.g. any suitablefrequency of electromagnetic radiation selected), through the opticallytransparent matrix to the oscillating ions (or polarized molecules) inFullerene cages or balls. The incoming beam, may be thus refracted, asdocumented in physics and chemical analysis. That is, chemicalrefraction processes for identification for crystal lattices, is known.

The concept of a virtual plane, of ions or molecules vibrating in aprobability-controlled pattern, to create a virtual plane within acrystal lattice of Buckminster Fullerene, is not known and understood inthe art. Current theories on manipulation of indices of refraction focuson thermal effects. Field effects are not understood as having theability to directly vary an index of refraction.

A plurality of electrodes, certain sets being orthogonal to certainother sets, may provide an entire, arbitrarily controllabledirectionality to any incoming light beam. Thus, suitable control ofelectrodes, in any manner known in the art, may be used to produce thevirtual plane of ions. Cathode tubes (CRT) use electrodes to guideelectrons along a ballistic path toward a screen. Imposing a field inthat context is a well understood art. Liquid crystal displays may relyon orientations of dipoles, also. Imposing an alternating field tocreate a virtual plane, in accordance with the invention, may extend theuse of field control of ion motion (in general any charged particlemotion) to obtain a very minimal dispersion of a refracted beam. Thiscontrol provides rapid, reliable, precise direction of the beam towardany suitable two dimensional surface.

Target surfaces for receiving the beam, and for reflecting the beam, maybe used to write, read, or write and read out the contents of datastored on the two dimensional surface. Surfaces configured, andread/write operations, may be performed in any of several suitablemanners know in the art for recording media. The two-dimensionalsurface, may be semi-spherical to surround the beam-directing head. Inone embodiment, a hemispherical head may refract a light beam onto aflat surface there below. Alternatively, a hemispherical orsemi-spherical head may refract a light beam to a semi-spherical targetsurface.

The overall density obtainable for reading and writing to an opticalmedium may be very high. Resolution may be within a few molecules,width, as the significant dimension defining the total area or diameterfor each bit of information. Thus, a cube, two inches on a side, may beconstructed to hold several gigabytes of data in a solid-state device.

A light may be transmitted through a solid medium, rather than simplytransmitted through space and reflected off a surface mechanicallyaligned. In some applications, multiple beams may be provided throughone or more heads, with the combination of the beams combining to act ata radius within a solid, at some azimuth and elevation. Thus, abeam-directing head may provide, for example, a stereo beam that actsonly at a specific radius, azimuth, and elevation within a solidsemi-spherical medium. Any use of light beams, in a process may beconsidered for direction by a head in accordance with the invention. Thepower and frequency or response, designed along with the spectralfrequency of the head may be used for laser cutting, visible orultraviolet curing of polymers, and other processes requiring directionof beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent from the following description andappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of theinvention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the invention will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a molecule of carbon-60 suitable forimplementing a method and apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a crystalline, Buckminster Fullerenemolecule of FIG. 1 containing an ion or polarized molecule trappedtherein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of semi-spherical matrix containingnumerous of the molecules of FIG. 2 in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a molecule of FIG. 2 exposed to analternating electric field for inducing and orienting an oscillation ofthe ion or polarized molecule in the carbon-60 crystal.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a semi-spherical, beam-directing headfor receiving a light beam and refracting the light beam from a virtualplane of oriented ions or molecules in accordance with FIGS. 3-4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the semi-spherical head of FIG. 5comparing a state having an inactive field, with the state of an active,alternating field for aligning motion of captured ions to refract anincoming light beam;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a semi-spherical head of BuckminsterFullerene crystals capturing ions that may be influenced by multiple,potentially or orthogonal, alternating fields to produce a virtual planeof refraction for an incoming light beam, as well as a reflected beamreturning from a target impinged by the outgoing, refracted beam;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a head, in accordance with theinvention, having multiple, orthogonal, virtual planes defined bymultiple, alternating, electrical fields, for directing refraction of alight beam to a specific location on a 2-dimensional target surface,such as an optical memory device, or, a other solid state device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be readily understood that the components of the presentinvention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein,could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of theembodiments of the system and method of the present invention, asrepresented in FIGS. 1 through 8, is not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention, as claimed, it is merely representative of certainpresently preferred embodiments of the invention.

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be bestunderstood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by like numerals throughout. Those of ordinary skill in theart will, of course, appreciate that various modifications to thedetailed schematic diagrams of FIGS. 1-8 may easily be made withoutdeparting from the essential characteristics of the invention, asdescribed in connection therewith. Thus, the following description ofthe detailed schematic diagrams of FIGS. 1-8 is intended only as anexample, and illustrates, certain presently preferred embodimentsconsistent with the invention as claimed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, a carbon-60 molecule 10, contains sixty atoms 12 ofcarbon are bonded in hexagons 14 and pentagons 16 to form a material,commonly known as Buckminster Fullerene, or Bucky balls. Fullerenes arenamed for Buckminster Fuller, the legendary proponent of geodesic domesfor construction, and various, non-traditional innovations. Thecarbon-60 forms a hollow sphere at a molecular level. The bonds 18 areformed during processing of carbon atoms 12 to make the Fullerene 10.

In one presently preferred embodiment, Fullerene molecules 10 are formedin the presence of a gas or vapor of ions or polarized molecules. Forexample, ions may include sodium, chlorine, water, or other common oruncommon materials. Any polarized particle subject to capture maysuffice.

Accordingly, a molecule, shaped like a modern soccer ball, will containan ion 20 within a carbon-60 molecule 10 made of twelve pentagonalfaces, each surrounded by five hexagons. Twenty hexagons and twelvepentagons, evenly distributed, form a cage for an ion 20 or polarizedmolecule 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the formation of the crystal carbon-60 molecule 10in a gas environment, provides interstitial, captured ions 20 orpolarized molecules 20, charged or otherwise susceptible to electricalfields.

Referring to FIG. 3, carbon-60 molecules 10, having their polarizedcontents captured within the respective Fullerene crystal structures,may be formed to fit within an envelope 22, such as a shell 22, orsimply a dimension 22. The envelope 22 may be defined by a physicalshell 22 for supporting a matrix 24, such as a gel 26 in which thecarbon-60 molecules 10 are suspended. In one embodiment, the matrix 24may be formed of a cured, optically (electromagnetically) transparentpolymer. In another embodiment, solid Fullerene crystals may be created,resulting in a solid crystal lattice of carbine-60 molecules 10, eachcapturing a suitable ion 20 or equivalent 20.

A solid, carbon-60 crystal may require grinding or machining to form ahemispherical surface 28 or other semisphere 28. In one presentlypreferred embodiment, the envelope 22 may be hemispherical.Alternatively the envelope 22 may be manufactured in a nearly completesphere. By any of the available modes, gel 26 in a shell 22, a cured,transparent, polymer matrix 24, or a solid, crystalline lattice ofcarbon-60 molecules 10, a head 30 may be created and shaped as desired.The head 30 may be referred to as an aiming head, a refractive head, orthe like. The head 30 may operate as a beam-directing head. Accordingly,a flat surface 32 may be provided for minimizing reflections of any beamdirected into the head 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, electrodes 34, 36, may be formed as plates,surfaces, conductive coatings, or the like, Electrodes 34, 36 may beapplied to a surface 28 of a semispherical head 30. Accordingly, eachindividual carbon-60 molecule 10 may "see" the electrodes 34, 36 asillustrated schematically in FIG. 4. A direction 38 or motion 38 may beimposed upon the normal envelope 39 of possible motion of an ion 20.Herein, the ion 20 refers to any polarized, captured entity within thecarbon-60 molecule 10 susceptible to an electrical field 40. Theresulting electric field 40 will orient the ion 20.

If the field 40 is alternating, due to an alternating voltage applied toelectrodes 34, 36 the motion 38 will be an oscillation of the ion 20 atthe frequency of the change in the field 40. The conductors 42, 44 makeconnect a voltage source 46 (e.g. field source) adapted to a desiredfrequency selected to control the oscillation of the ions 20 and providea suitably oriented planar molecular surface for controlling the aim ofthe lightbeam.

As a practical matter, the relative dimensions of the electrodes 34, 36,and the carbon-60 molecules 10 is not as shown schematically in FIG. 4.Thus, rather than an individual molecule 10 and an individual ion 20,the virtual plane of ions 20 may be present, probabilistically, asestablished by the field orientation between the electrodes 34, 36. Thevirtual plane may be though of as a probabilistic phenomenon. A highprobability will exist that an ion 20 will, at any time, exist withinthe plane defined by the field 40.

Multiple layers of such ionic planes will actually exist if lightpenetrates through the theoretical plane of the motion 38, a subsequentlayer may refract the beam. Thus, the individual ions 20, althoughpresenting a probabilistic obstacle to a light beam, may present such areliable, formidable obstacle as to effectively diffract an entire lightbeam to a target FIG. 5 49, a large portion of 48.

Referring to FIG. 5, an incoming beam 48, desired to be directed to atarget 49, may be generated by a source 50. A source 50 may contain asender 51a and a receiver 51b for, respectively, the light beam 48 andits reflections on 49, (e.g. 49a, 49b) from a target 49. That is, ingeneral, a beam 48 may be directed from the source 50 through the head30 (beam-directing head 30), to exit as an outgoing beam 52 in aselected angle 53 or direction 53. The angle 53 may be defined by thevirtual plane 59 (see FIG. 6) of ions 20, oriented along the field 40between the electrodes 34, 36.

Referring to FIG. 6, a beam 48, directed at the center 54 of, orotherwise normal to, a flat surface 32 of a semispherical head 30 may benon-refracted or refracted at random. Refraction will occur inaccordance with the molecular structures of the carbon-60 molecules andthe ions 20, unaffected by a field, when the "inactive field" stateexists. Scattering beams 56 may refract from the incoming beam 48, withthe majority of the incoming beam 48 passing through the head 30 as anundirected beam 52a. Since no voltage is applied by the voltage source46 through the conductors 42, 44 to the respective electrodes 34, 36,the outgoing beam 52a is uninteresting.

In an activation process 58, the voltage source 46 may apply a potentialbetween the electrodes 34, 36, creating the field 40. The electrons orions 20, as charged particles, would normally drift with a field 40, asillustrated by the Milliken oil-drop experiments, cathode-ray tubes,etc. However, since the ions 20 are each captured within a carbon-60molecule 10, motion is restricted. Moreover, since the molecules 10 arecaptured within a matrix 24 in the head 30, the molecules cannot drift.

Since the field 40 is an alternating field, the ions 20 may oscillate intheir cages 10 at the frequency of the source 46 and its created field40. The ions 20, thus form a virtual plane 59. As a practical matter,multiple electrodes 34, 36 may be provided to assure existence thevirtual plane 59. At an atomic level, the incoming beam 48, or incidentbeam 48 will refract at some angle 60, or refractive angel 60. Theoutgoing beam 52 may thus be directed normal (perpendicular) to thefield 40 and the virtual plane 59. Reflected light obeys a differentrule based on an angle of incidence.

The virtual plane 59 may be thought of as including an alignment axis 61between the electrodes 34, 36 but may actually exist at many layers.Many layers of ions 20 may be subjected to the field 40. Accordingly,each layer itself is actually virtual. Each ion 20 will tend to directincoming rays from the beam 48 from the directions 53a into thedirection 53b. Of the outgoing beam 52b. Nevertheless, it is instructiveto regard the entire beam 48 as behaving as a particular ray andtotality of ions 20 as behaving as single plane 59.

Referring to FIG. 7, multiple electrodes 34, 36 and 64, 66 may beinstalled orthogonal to one another about the head 30. As illustratedschematically, the individual carbon-60 molecules 10 exposed to themultiple electric fields 40 between the pairs 34, 36 and 64, 66 ofelectrodes may provide a true plane 59 of refraction. Although the exactshape of the head 30 is not overly critical, a linearly controllableconfiguration is desirable.

Different electrodes 34, 36, 64, 66 may be applied to provide efficientlinear combination of the effects thereof. The fields 40, 41 establishedby the respective pairs 34, 36 and 64, 66 of electrodes may be addedvectorially. The addition of all vectorial velocities of ions 20 mayform virtual planes. The virtual planes can be rotated by properapplication of the fields 40, 41.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, multiple voltage sources 46, 65 may be appliedto the respective electrodes 34, 36, 64, 66 through respectiveconductors 42, 44, 63, 67. In FIG. 7, two pairs of electrodes 34, 36,64, 66 are provided. In FIG. 8, four pairs 72, 74, 76, 78 of electrodesare provided. By changing the phase and magnitude of the voltage sources46, 65 being applied to each of the electrodes 34, 36, 64, 66, 72, 74,76, 78 it is possible to create a rotating planar ion field 59 as aresultant. Thus, the effective incident angle 69 of the beam 52 may bealtered. Note that a return beam 68 (see FIG. 7), reflected from atarget 80 or surface 80 may return along the same path 52 to become thereturn beam 70 into the source 50 equipped with both a sender 51a and areceiver 51b.

Referring to FIG. 8, the electrodes 72a, 72b, 74a, 74b, 76a, 76b, 78a,78b may define planar relationships with respect to one another. Thehead 30 may be positioned to access at some distance 79 away from thesemispherical surface 28, a surface 80. For example, if the surface 80forms a memory medium, the head 30 may refract the incoming beam 48 totarget an outgoing beam 52 toward any desired position on the surface80.

In one embodiment, the surface 80 may be a flat plane 81a. The shape ofthe surface 80, maybe otherwise arbitrarily designed. Alternatively, thesurface 80 may be formed as a curved, even semispherical surface 81b.Across the head 30, whether or not actually placed close to the surface28 thereof, the electrodes 72, 74, 76, 78 may provide associated,alternating fields 82, 84, 86, 88 receptively. The fields 82, 84, 86, 88may be referred to in FIG. 8 as field axes 82, 84, 86, 88, respectively,defining the axes of orientation of fields 82, 84, 86, 88.

Within the available resolution accuracy of the head 30, with respect tothe beam 48 of the source 50, individual elements 90 may be defined.Each of the elements 90 may be thought of as a smallest surface areathat can effectively be addressed by the precision of the outgoing beam52 from the head 30. The speed and accuracy with which a beam 48 may bedirected through a head 30 by the electrodes 72, 74, 76, 78 in a timelyfashion, defines the size of each of the elements 90.

In one embodiment, the semisphere 28 may be a hemisphere 28. Centerlines 92, 94 may be represented orthogonally with respect to oneanother. At some distance 79 from the surface 28 of the semisphericalhead 30, the target 81a, 81b (or surface 81a, 81b) may be positioned toreceive a directed, outgoing beam 52 (e.g. beam 52b).

In a spherical embodiment 81b, a surface 81b may be scanned in anazimuthal direction 96a, and an elevation direction 96b. In a flatsurface 81a, an individual element 90 may be indexed in an X direction98a and a Y direction 98b.

The resolution 100a in an X direction 98a or azimuthal direction 96a,and the resolution 100b, or dimension 100b in a Y direction 98b or anelevation 96b may be determined by the size, speed and accuracy of thehead 30 in directing the incoming beam 48 to the respective surface 81a,81b. The dimensions, 100a, 100b for an apparatus and method inaccordance with the invention, in one embodiment are on the order ofapproximately three molecules in size. Thus, the storage density on asurface 81a, 81b may be increased by an order of magnitude above thestorage density in currently available memory devices.

In one embodiment, a 3-dimensional solid 101 may extend a distance 102,or thickness 102. The beam 52 may be directed into the thickness 102.Multiple beams 52 may interact a specified focaldepth. For example, aholographic memory device may read and write to a particular distance 79radially away from a surface 28 of the head 30. Likewise, interactions,between beams or combining at a location in the depth 102 of the solid101 may be used to trigger processes for data management, chemicalreaction, cutting surgery and so forth.

In one embodiment, the field of 82, 84 are used to define a plane.Similarly, the field axes 86, 88 may form a plane. Obtaining exactorthogonality between each of the pairs of electrodes 72, 74, 76, 78,may be more difficult on a surface 28 of a hemispherical head 30, thanit would be if a larger portion of a sphere were used for the head 30.Field strength may need to increase to produce the same effect, if thefields electrodes 72, 74, 76, 78, are moved to a distance beyond themedium 81a, 81b.

Thus, in one presently preferred embodiment, the electrodes 72, 74, 76,78, may be provided as coating on the surface 28 of the head 30 andprovided with appropriate conductors 42, 44, 63, 67 to establish thenecessary alternating fields 82, 84, 86, 88, respectively. The relativephases of the electrical fields 82-88 may cause different planarorientations of the virtual planes 59 created by the ions 20.

Accordingly, at the speed available to switch a voltage, any or all ofthe fields 82-88 may be altered to change the angle 69 of the outgoingbeam 52b, with respect to the unaffected beam 52a of FIG. 7. Thus, theapparatus of FIG. 8 provides fully controllable refraction of anincident beam 48, such as a light beam, through a beam-directing head 30to any location 90 on a surface 81, whether flat 81a, or spherical 81b.

As a solid state device, the head 30 and the medium 81 may form a memorydevice having a density for data of typically one to three orders ofmagnitude improvement. Similarly, speeds of change in the location 90 ofthe beam 52 may be increased by up to six orders of magnitude over priorart systems.

Manufacturing techniques for the head 30 may include molding a shell 22or envelope 22 for receiving a matrix 24. The matrix 24 may be a gel 26suspending carbon-60 molecules 10 therein, each containing an ion. Themedium 81 or surface 81 may be provided by any suitable method now inexistence for electro-optical storage media. Since the head 30 andsurface 81 may be manufactured at a fixed distance 79 with respect toone another, calibration and addressing need not be dynamic. As apractical matter, once all of the location 90 are determined accordingto a suitable mapping, or the like, a simple table may be relied uponfor addressing all available memory. Additional calibration, alignment,and the like, associated with prior art devices, may be dispensed with.

To make a memory device, a head 30 may be manufactured. That the head 30may be manufactured by creating carbon-60 molecules in an environment ofions or polarized molecules desired for creating, are fractive, virtualplane. The carbon-60 maybe formed in a crystal lattice. Carbon-60 isfabricated in the ion environment to produce crystalline carbon-60 cages10 holding the desired ions interstitially therein, between the atoms 12of the carbon-60 molecule 10. Conductive electrodes may be applied to anouter surface 28 of a head 30 Electrodes 34, 36 need only have the head30 therebetween. A memory medium may be placed in two dimensions tosurround the head 30 at a distance 29.

A 2-dimensional surface 81 may be spherical, planar, cylindrical, or ofany other shape suitable for being accurately addressed by a refractedlight beam 52. The electrodes 82-88 may be energized to provide aphased, alternating field across each of the electrode pairs 72, 74, 76,78, respectively in order to control a virtual plane of ions oscillatingtherein for performing the refraction of an incoming beam 48 of light.

The outgoing beam 52 directed by the head 30 may be used to write tovarious locations 90 on the surface 81. After writing to the medium 81,the head 30 may be controlled to orient the ions 20 to pass a reflectedsignal 68 back from the surface 81 and location 90 into the head 30 andback to the source 50 as a return beam 70. Just as radar provides for asending and a receiving of a beam signal, an apparatus and method inaccordance with the invention may effectively slice time, or multiplexthe outgoing beam 52 with the return beam 68, in order to send andreceive effectively simultaneously. The fields 82, 84, 86, 88 betweenpairs 72, 74, 76, 78 of electrodes respectively, may be energized in aphased relationship that will stabilize a virtual plane 59 as desired inorder to obtain the rapid and precise refraction angle 69 desired inorder to, write, or both, with the beam 48 to the surface 81 of a memorydevice 104.

From the above discussion, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention provides a solid state director for a light or otherelectromagnetic beam. A refractive angle is controlled by electricfields between multiple electrodes to create a virtual plane of capturedions in crystalline "cages" of Fullerene carbon-60. In accordance withsemiconductor physics and optical physics of velocity drift, scanningrates over a 90 degree arc in elevation may be on the order ofmegahertz. The entire head 30, and storage medium 80, when combined intoa memory device, provide a solid state device 104 requires no mechanicalacceleration of parts larger than ions or captured molecules in acrystal lattice.

The memory device 104 increases in speed may approach three, four, five,or even six orders of magnitude over current technology known in theart. Density of such memory devices 104 may range from one order ofmagnitude improvement over conventional, prior art, memory devices, tothree orders of magnitude over total three-dimensional envelopes ofthree-dimensional memory devices, such as holographic memory devices.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative,and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:
 1. An apparatus comprising:a source for providing light; astorage medium having a surface that is adapted to store data in anaddressable manner, the storage medium being effective to respond to asignal corresponding to the light from the source; and a directorpositioned intermediate the source and the storage medium, and operableto direct the light in two dimensions across the surface for effectingthe response, wherein the director comprises a plurality of carbonmolecules that each include a captured polarized particle that is mobiletherein wherein the polarized particles are field actuatable to redirectthe direction of the light from the source.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the signal is effective to write data to be stored in thestorage medium.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal iseffective to read data stored in the storage medium.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the director is fixed with respect to the apparatus. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the storage medium is fixed withrespect to the director.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedirector and storage medium are configured in a solid state.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the response is a reflection of the light.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source is adapted to producethe light in a coherent beam.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesource is adapted to produce the light in a frequency selected fromvisible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation spectra.
 10. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the source is adapted to produce the light aselectromagnetic radiation outside a spectrum between ultraviolet andinfrared wavelengths.
 11. An apparatus comprising:a source for providinglight; a storage medium having a surface that is adapted to store datain an addressable manner, the storage medium being effective to respondto a signal corresponding to the light from the source; and a directorpositioned intermediate the source and the storage medium, and operableto direct the light across the surface for effecting the response,wherein the director comprises a plurality of carbon molecules that eachinclude a captured polarized particle that is mobile therein, whereinthe polarized particles are field actuatable to redirect the directionof the light from the source.